Power distribution apparatus having capability for color management

ABSTRACT

A PDA (power distribution apparatus) having capability for color management, the PDA has at least one PDU (power distribution unit), the PDU has a plurality of outlets and a displayer; wherein the screen color of the displayer can display different color according to the management item, thereby executing the visualize management of the PDA.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a PDA (power distribution apparatus) having capability for color management, and more particularly to a PDU (power distribution unit) can be provided with a displayer, the screen color of the displayer can display different color according to the management item, thereby executing the visualize management of the PDA.

2. Description of Related Art

A prior-art is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,639,459, the prior-art disclosed a PDU power monitoring module can be used to control and store an address of each PDU, each rack system may have only one rack PDU, or more than two rack PDUs. The prior-art can monitor each PDU by way of a network, but the wiring arrangement of rack room is complicated. In the rack room, the maintenance staff can not easy to identify the electric power source of each PDU, the load type of each PDU and the network of the load. If the rack room needs to execute an expansion, a repair or a check, the maintenance staff can not easy to find out a correct location of the PDU and a correct location of the load. Thus, the prior-art can be improved by the visualize management of the rack room. Moreover, if the rack room uses the shell color of the PDU to achieve the visualize management, then the color of the PDU is fixed, the PDU color can not adjust to adapt to the apparatus function, or the PDU color can not change to adapt to the wiring arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a first object of the invention to provide a PDA (power distribution apparatus) having capability for color management, the PDA comprises a first PDU (power distribution unit) and a second PDU, the first PDU can electrically connect an external first power source, the second PDU can electrically connect an external second power source; wherein the first PDU can be provided with a first displayer, the screen color of the first displayer can be set as a first color, the second PDU can be provided with a second displayer, the screen color of the second displayer can be set as a second color, thereby identifying and managing the electric power source of the PDA.

It is therefore second object of the invention to provide a PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprises a first PDU and a second PDU, the first PDU can be provided with a first communication interface, the second PDU can be provided with a second communication interface; wherein the first communication interface and the second communication interface can be a Master-Slave communication frame. When the first communication interface is communicatively connected to the second communication interface, the first communication interface and the second communication interface can form a Daisy-Chain, the first PDU can serve as a Master PDU, the screen color of the first PDU can be displayed as a first color, the second PDU can serve as a Slave PDU, the screen color of the second PDU can be displayed as a second color, thereby identifying the Master-Slave relationship of the first PDU and the second PDU.

It is therefore third object of the invention to provide a PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprises a first PDU and a second PDU, the first PDU can supply power to a first load, the second PDU can supply power to a second load; wherein the first PDU can be provided with a first displayer, the screen color of the first displayer can be set as a first color, and the second PDU can be provided with a second displayer, the screen color of the second displayer can be set as a second color, thereby identifying and managing the loads of the PDA.

It is therefore fourth object of the invention to provide a PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprises a PDU, the PDU can be provided with an AST (Auto Transfer Switch), the PDU can electrically connect an external first power source and an external second power source; wherein the PDU can be provided with a displayer, when the AST is switched to connect the first power source to supply power, the screen color of the displayer can be displayed as a first color; when the AST is switched to connect the second power source to supply power, the screen color of the displayer can be displayed as a second color, thereby identifying and managing the source of electrical power of the PDA.

First advantages of the invention is, the PDA has the capability for intuitive color management, the PDA has a plurality of PDUs (power distribution units), a user can identify the electric power source of the PDUs by the screen color of the PDUs. Because the color display of the PDUs have more large area, the PDUs can particularly be suitable for a server room or a place having complicated cable.

Second advantages of the invention is, the PDUs can use an ALS (Ambient Light Sensor) to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness of the screen color, or the PDUs can manually adjust the brightness of the screen color.

Third advantages of the invention is, the PDA has the capability for Master-Slave color management, the PDA has a plurality of PDUs. Because the color display of the PDUs will be in accordance with a Master-Slave communication frame of the PDA, a user can use the screen color of the PDUs to identify the Master-Slave relationship of the PDUs.

Fourth advantages of the invention is, the PDA has the capability for load color management, the PDA has a plurality of PDUs. Because the color display of the PDUs will be in accordance with the load type or the network domain belonging to the load, a user can use the screen color of the PDUs to identify the load type or the network domain belonging to the load.

Fifth advantages of the invention is, the PDA has a PDU, the PDU has an AST (Auto Transfer Switch), a user can use the screen color of the PDU to identify the electrical power source of the AST.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a first and second setting menu diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is the color option of the first and second setting menu diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an expanding manner diagram illustrating the second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10 is a displaying load status diagram illustrating the third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a first power source supplying power diagram illustrating the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 13 is a second power source supplying power diagram illustrating the fourth embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 14 is a functional block diagram illustrating the fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a PDA (power distribution apparatus) in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention comprises a first PDU (power distribution unit) 1, a first setting menu 14, a first displayer 15, a second PDU 2, a second setting menu 24, a second displayer 25; the first PDU 1 has a first power input terminal 10, the first power input terminal 10 can electrically connected to a plurality of first outlets 11 and an external first power source 30; the second PDU 2 has a second power input terminal 20, the second power input terminal 20 can electrically connected to a plurality of second outlets 21 and an external second power source 40; the first displayer 15 is disposed on the first PDU 1, an internal first processor 12 of the first PDU 1 can driver the screen color of the first displayer 15; the first setting menu 14 can be provided by the first processor 12, the first setting menu 14 can be displayed on the first displayer 15; the second displayer 25 is disposed on the second PDU 2, an internal second processor 22 of the second PDU 2 can driver the screen color of the second displayer 25; the second setting menu 24 can be provided by the second processor 22, the second setting menu 24 can be displayed on the second displayer 25; wherein the first PDU 1 has a first button assembly 16 to use to select the color option of the first setting menu 14 (e.g., a first color option and a second color option), therefore the screen color (e.g., backlight color or background color) of the first displayer 15 will be a first color (for example but not limit to blue). Moreover, the second PDU 2 has a second button assembly 26 to use to select the color option of the second setting menu 24 (e.g., a first color option and a second color option), therefore the screen color (e.g., backlight color or background color) of the second displayer 25 will be a second color (for example but not limit to red). Thus, the PDA has the capability for intuitive color management. Because the color display has more large area, the invention can particularly be suitable for a server room or a place having complicated cable.

Examples of an executing manner of PDA and external power source, the power source 30 can be a main power source, the first PDU 1 can use the first color to identify as the main power source, and the second power source 40 can be a redundancy power source, the second PDU 2 can use the second color to identify as the redundancy power source.

Examples of an executing manner of PDA supplying power to load, at least one of the first outlets 11 can supply power to a first load 70 (for example but not limit to a server), and at least one of the second outlets 21 can supply power to the first load 70, the first displayer 15 can display a first power information of the first PDU 1, the second displayer 25 can display a second power information of the second PDU 2, the first power information and the second power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor, as shown in FIG. 1. When the power source 30 is normally supplying power, the first load 70 can be supplied power by the power source 30, also the power source 30 and the second power source 40 can together supply power the first load 70. When the power supply of the power source 30 is abnormal, the second power source 40 can supply enough electric power to the first load 70.

Examples of an executing manner of the first displayer 15 and the second displayer 25, wherein the first displayer 15 and the second displayer 25 can select from LED (light emitting diode) displayer or OLED (organic light emitting diode) displayer. The first displayer 15 can use an ALS (Ambient Light Sensor) 17 to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the first displayer 15 can use the first button assembly 16 to manually adjust the brightness. Moreover, the second displayer 25 can use an ALS 27 to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the second displayer 25 can use the second button assembly 26 to manually adjust the brightness.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 7, in second embodiment of the invention, the first PDU 1 further comprises a first communication interface 13, the first communication interface 13 has a first connector 131; the second PDU 2 further comprises a second communication interface 23, the second communication interface 23 has a second connector 231; wherein the first communication interface 13 and the second communication interface 23 can be a Master-Slave communication frame (for example but not limit to RS485). When the first connector 131 is communicatively connected to the second connector 231, the first communication interface 13 and the second communication interface 23 can form a Daisy-Chain, the first PDU 1 can serve as a Master PDU, the first processor 12 can driver the screen color of the first displayer 15 to display as a first color, and the second PDU 2 can serve as a Slave PDU, the second processor 22 can driver the screen color of the second displayer 25 to display as a second color, a user can use the screen color of the first PDU 1 and the second PDU 2 to identify the Master-Slave relationship of the first PDU 1 and the second PDU 2. Thus, the PDA of the invention has the capability for Master-Slave color management.

Examples of a first setting manner of Master-Slave color, the first processor 12 and the second processor 22 can preset a setting value of Master-Slave color; wherein the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Master PDU as the first color, and the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Slave PDU as the second color.

Examples of a second setting manner of Master-Slave color, the first processor 12 can provide a third setting menu 14 a, the third setting menu 14 a can be displayed on the first displayer 15, the first PDU 1 has the first button assembly 16 to set up the Master-Slave color setting value of the third setting menu 14 a; the second processor 22 can provide a fourth setting menu 24 a, the fourth setting menu 24 a can be displayed on the second displayer 25, the second PDU 2 has the second button assembly 26 to set up the Master-Slave color setting value of the fourth setting menu 24 a; wherein the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Master PDU as the first color, and the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Slave PDU as the second color.

Examples of a connection manner of plural Slave PDUs, the second communication interface 23 further has a third connector 233 to use to communicatively connect another second PDU 2 a, the third connector 233 can be communicatively connected to a fourth connector 234 of the second PDU 2 a, therefore the Daisy-Chain can communicatively connect with a plurality of Slave PDUs, the screen color of the first PDU 1 and the second PDU 2, 2 a is showed in FIG. 7.

Referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, in third embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first outlets 11 can supply power to a first load 70, the first processor 12 can driver the screen color of the first displayer 15 to display as a first color, and at least one of the second outlets 21 can supply power to a second load 80, the second processor 22 can driver the screen color of the second displayer 25 to display as a second color, therefore the PDA of the invention has the capability for load color management.

Examples of a first setting manner of load color, the first processor 12 can provide a fifth setting menu 14 b, the fifth setting menu 14 b can be displayed on the first displayer 15, the first PDU 1 has the first button assembly 16 to set up the load color setting value of the fifth setting menu 14 b; the second processor 22 can provide a sixth setting menu 24 b, the sixth setting menu 24 b can be displayed on the second displayer 25, the second PDU 2 has the second button assembly 26 to set up the load color setting value of the sixth setting menu 24 b; wherein the setting value of load color can define the screen color according to the load type or the network domain belonging to the load, a user can use the screen color of the first PDU 1 and the second PDU 2 to identify the load type or the network domain belonging to the load, as shown in FIG. 8.

Examples of a second setting manner of load color, the first processor 12 and the second processor 22 can preset a setting value of load status; wherein the setting value of load status can define the screen color of normal status as a third color, the setting value of load status can define the screen color of warning status as a fourth color, and the setting value of load status can define the screen color of overload status as a fifth color. For example, when the load of the first PDU 1 is in the normal status, the screen color of the first PDU 1 can be the third color; when the load of the second PDU 2 is in the warning status, the screen color of the second PDU 2 can be the fourth color; when the load of another second PDU 2 a is in the overload status, the screen color of the second PDU 2 a can be the fifth color, as shown in FIG. 9.

Referring to FIGS. 11 to 14, in fourth embodiment of the invention, the PDA comprises a PDU 9, a first power input terminal 90, a second power input terminal 90 a and displayer 95; the PDU 9 can be provided with an AST (Auto Transfer Switch) 99, the AST 99 can electrically connect a plurality of outlets 91, the first power input terminal 90 can electrically connect with the AST 99 and an external first power source 30, the second power input terminal 90 a can electrically connect with the AST 99 and an external second power source 40, the displayer 95 is disposed on the PDU 9, an internal processor 92 of the PDU 9 can driver the screen color of the displayer 95; wherein the processor 92 can provide a seventh setting menu 94, the seventh setting menu 94 can be displayed on the displayer 95. When the AST 99 is switched to connect the first power source 30, the first power source 30 will supply power to the PDU 9, the processor 92 can driver the screen color of the displayer 95 to display as a first color. When the AST 99 is switched to connect the second power source 40, the second power source 40 will supply power to the PDU 9, the processor 92 can driver the screen color of the displayer 95 to display as a second color.

Examples of an executing manner of the displayer 95, wherein the displayer 95 can display a power information, the power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor, as shown in FIG. 11. The displayer 95 can select from LED displayer or OLED displayer. The displayer 95 can use an ALS 97 to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the displayer 95 can use the button assembly 96 to manually adjust the brightness. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A PDA (power distribution apparatus) having capability for color management, the PDA comprising: a first PDU (power distribution unit) having a first power input terminal (10), the first power input terminal (10) can electrically connected to a plurality of first outlets (11) and a first power source (30); a second PDU having a second power input terminal (20), the second power input terminal (20) can electrically connected to a plurality of second outlets (21) and a second power source (40); a first displayer (15) disposed on the first PDU, an internal first processor (12) of the first PDU can driver the screen color of the first displayer (15); a first setting menu (14), the first setting menu (14) can be provided by the first processor (12), the first setting menu (14) can be displayed on the first displayer (15); a second displayer (25) disposed on the second PDU, an internal second processor (22) of the second PDU can driver the screen color of the second displayer (25); a second setting menu (24), the second setting menu (24) can be provided by the second processor (22), the second setting menu (24) can be displayed on the second displayer (25); wherein the first PDU has a first button assembly (16) to use to select the color option of the first setting menu (14), the screen color of the first displayer (15) will be a first color; and the second PDU has a second button assembly (26) to use to select the color option of the second setting menu (24), the screen color of the second displayer (25) will be a second color, therefore the PDA has the capability for intuitive color management.
 2. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 1, wherein the power source (30) is a main power source, the first PDU can use the first color to identify as the main power source, and the second power source (40) is a redundancy power source, the second PDU can use the second color to identify as the redundancy power source.
 3. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first outlets (11) can supply power to a first load (70), and at least one of the second outlets (21) can supply power to the first load (70), the first displayer (15) can display a first power information of the first PDU, the second displayer (25) can display a second power information of the second PDU, the first power information and the second power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor.
 4. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 1, wherein the first displayer (15) and the second displayer (25) can select from LED (light emitting diode) displayer or OLED (organic light emitting diode) displayer; the first displayer (15) can use an ALS (Ambient Light Sensor) to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the first displayer (15) can use the first button assembly (16) to manually adjust the brightness; the second displayer (25) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the second displayer (25) can use the second button assembly (26) to manually adjust the brightness.
 5. A PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprising: a first PDU having a plurality of first outlets (11) and a first communication interface (13), the first communication interface (13) has a first connector (131); a second PDU having a plurality of second outlets (21) and a second communication interface (23), the second communication interface (23) has a second connector (231); a first displayer (15) disposed on the first PDU, an internal first processor (12) of the first PDU can driver the screen color of the first displayer (15); a second displayer (25) disposed on the second PDU, an internal second processor (22) of the second PDU can driver the screen color of the second displayer (25); wherein the first communication interface (13) and the second communication interface (23) can be a Master-Slave communication frame; when the first connector (131) is communicatively connected to the second connector (231), the first communication interface (13) and the second communication interface (23) can form a Daisy-Chain, the first PDU can serve as a Master PDU, the first processor (12) can driver the screen color of the first displayer (15) to display as a first color; and the second PDU can serve as a Slave PDU, the second processor (22) can driver the screen color of the second displayer (25) to display as a second color, therefore the PDA has the capability for Master-Slave color management.
 6. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 5, wherein the first processor (12) and the second processor (22) can preset a setting value of Master-Slave color, the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Master PDU as the first color, and the setting value of Master-Slave color can define the screen color of the Slave PDU as the second color.
 7. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 5, wherein the first processor (12) can provide a third setting menu (14 a), the third setting menu (14 a) can be displayed on the first displayer (15), the first PDU has a first button assembly (16) to set up a Master-Slave color setting value of the third setting menu (14 a); the second processor (22) can provide a fourth setting menu (24 a), the fourth setting menu (24 a) can be displayed on the second displayer (25), the second PDU has a second button assembly (26) to set up a Master-Slave color setting value of the fourth setting menu (24 a).
 8. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 5, wherein the first displayer (15) can display a first power information of the first PDU, the second displayer (25) can display a second power information of the second PDU, the first power information and the second power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor; the first displayer (15) and the second displayer (25) can select from LED displayer or OLED displayer; the first displayer (15) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the first displayer (15) can use a first button assembly (16) to manually adjust the brightness; the second displayer (25) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the second displayer (25) can use a second button assembly (26) to manually adjust the brightness.
 9. A PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprising: a first PDU having a first power input terminal (10), the first power input terminal (10) can electrically connected to a plurality of first outlets (11); a second PDU having a second power input terminal (20), the second power input terminal (20) can electrically connected to a plurality of second outlets (21); a first displayer (15) disposed on the first PDU, an internal first processor (12) of the first PDU can driver the screen color of the first displayer (15); a second displayer (25) disposed on the second PDU, an internal second processor (22) of the second PDU can driver the screen color of the second displayer (25); wherein at least one of the first outlets (11) can supply power to a first load (70), the first processor (12) can driver the screen color of the first displayer (15) to display as a first color, and at least one of the second outlets (21) can supply power to a second load (80), the second processor (22) can driver the screen color of the second displayer (25) to display as a second color, therefore the PDA has the capability for load color management.
 10. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 9, wherein the first processor (12) can provide a fifth setting menu (14 b), the fifth setting menu (14 b) can be displayed on the first displayer (15), the first PDU has a first button assembly (16) to set up a load color setting value of the fifth setting menu (14 b); the second processor (22) can provide a sixth setting menu (24 b), the sixth setting menu (24 b) can be displayed on the second displayer (25), the second PDU has a second button assembly (26) to set up a load color setting value of the sixth setting menu (24 b); the setting value of load color can define the screen color according to the load type or the network domain belonging to the load.
 11. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 9, wherein the first processor (12) and the second processor (22) can preset a setting value of load status; the setting value of load status can define the screen color of normal status as a third color, the setting value of load status can define the screen color of warning status as a fourth color, and the setting value of load status can define the screen color of overload status as a fifth color.
 12. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 9, wherein the first displayer (15) can display a first power information of the first PDU, the second displayer (25) can display a second power information of the second PDU, the first power information and the second power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor; the first displayer (15) and the second displayer (25) can select from LED displayer or OLED displayer; the first displayer (15) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the first displayer (15) can use a first button assembly (16) to manually adjust the brightness; the second displayer (25) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the second displayer (25) can use a second button assembly (26) to manually adjust the brightness.
 13. A PDA having capability for color management, the PDA comprising: a PDU having an AST (Auto Transfer Switch), the AST can electrically connect a plurality of outlets (91); a first power input terminal (90), the first power input terminal (90) can electrically connect with the AST and a first power source (30); a second power input terminal (90 a), the second power input terminal (90 a) can electrically connect with the AST and a second power source (40); a displayer (95) disposed on the PDU, an internal processor (92) of the PDU can driver the screen color of the displayer (95); wherein the processor (92) can provide a seventh setting menu (94), the seventh setting menu (94) can be displayed on the displayer (95); when the AST is switched to connect the first power source (30), the first power source (30) will supply power to the PDU, the processor (92) can driver the screen color of the displayer (95) to display as a first color; when the AST is switched to connect the second power source (40), the second power source (40) will supply power to the PDU, the processor (92) can driver the screen color of the displayer (95) to display as a second color.
 14. The PDA having capability for color management of claim 13, wherein the displayer (95) can display a power information, the power information can select from voltage, electric current, power consumption, or power factor; the displayer (95) can select from LED displayer or OLED displayer; the displayer (95) can use an ALS to automatically detect environment to adjust the brightness, or the displayer (95) can use a button assembly (96) to manually adjust the brightness. 